Leading Irish rider Davy Russell is hoping to be back in the saddle as soon as possible but it looks as though he may have to wait a little longer, with the new year looking like his most recent target.
The dual Grand National winning rider suffered a horrible injury back in October when dislocating and fracturing vertebrae when falling at the first fence in the Munster National aboard The Charles Byrnes trained Doctor Duffy.
That fall has seen him off the track for over two months now, with the multiple times Irish Champion Jockey damaging his C6 and C7 vertebrae and dislocated his T1 meaning it was always going to be a lengthy recovery period.
Russell will find out more on his next visit to hospital as he will undergo more X-rays on his injuries on December 17th and he is hoping to get some positive news.
(Credit ATR) The rider said: “I’m getting on fine, I’m in very little pain, I have good movement and I’m doing as much exercise as I’m allowed.
“I’m heading back on December 17 to get more X-rays and to see how it’s all going and to see what sort of date we are looking at.
Envoi Allen - see you next season champ:
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“It’s all the hands of the doctors. They’ll fill me in on how my progress is going, but it is all going according to plan, touch wood. The fusion of my vertebrae has worked well but I’ve no set date to work towards, I just get checked every couple of weeks to check everything is where it’s supposed to be.”
He added: “This will be a strange Christmas, it’s the first one I won’t be riding at in all the years I’ve been riding, I’ve never missed it yet. I’ll be watching it on television so it will be very different.”
One horse in particular that Russell is excited about getting back on board is the unbeaten Envoi Allen who he steered to victory at the Cheltenham festival last season.
“I didn’t feel a twinge of regret at not riding him, quite the opposite actually, he sent a shiver down my spine,” said Russell.
“I got goosebumps watching him. He’s something else. I’d have given anything to be on his back.
“If I’d been suspended or something my stomach would have been churning, but in our game injuries come. Fingers crossed I’ll be back on him before too long.
“I’m a racing fan as much as anything and I really enjoyed watching him. He was breathtaking.”